Student discipline disparities highlighted in public comment at North Kingstown meeting

During public comment at the April 16 North Kingstown School Committee meeting, Maya Lima — a BSW student and district out‑of‑school‑time coordinator who reviewed the discipline subcommittee data as part of a practicum — told the committee that the district’s discipline data show consistent disparities across student groups.

Lima summarized the discipline statistics cited in the district’s equity audit: students who are African‑American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, multiracial, male, differently abled, or eligible for free/reduced lunch have elevated risk for disciplinary referrals. She said middle‑ and high‑school suspension ratios were particularly concerning; for example, the suspension risk ratio for Black students at the secondary level was reported as seven times higher than for other students in the cited year.

Lima argued that broad and inconsistent definitions of infractions — for example how a broadly worded “student assault” label is applied across buildings — contribute to uneven outcomes. She recommended a consistent set of definitions, districtwide training on implicit bias and restorative practices, and adoption of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework to create consistent language and responses across schools.

Committee members did not respond during the public‑comment period, consistent with committee policy, but the request to renew and act on discipline subcommittee recommendations was noted by multiple community speakers.

The discipline subcommittee's recommendations presented in March include greater use of PBIS, clearer definitions for infractions, and staff training on restorative practices and bias reduction; Lima urged the committee to approve the subcommittee’s recommendations and continue the group’s work.